[Tuberculosis control in Senegal: update on care services and recommendations for improvement]. / La lutte contre la tuberculose au Sénégal: situation actuelle de la prise en charge et recommandations pour son amélioration.

The goal of this study was to evaluate tuberculosis control in Senegal especially with regard to organization, quality, and availability of care services. Study was carried out from January to October 2002 within the framework of the National Turberculosis Control Program (NTCP) in 10 public hospitals and 8 private facilities including 4 doctors' offices, 2 company medical dispensaries, and 2 medical laboratories. Case observations were collected at the same time as surveying of diagnostic and therapeutic departments. In addition NTCP records for the period from 2000 to 2001 were searched. The reporting rate of new cases confirmed by positive smears is still low in Senegal, (62/100 000 inhabitants). Reporting is particularly low in rural areas where a clear-cut male predominance was observed. The cure rate also remains low (mean, 62%) mainly due to failure to complete treatment (28%). This situation contrasts with the extensive resources that have been devoted to diagnosis and treatment including field units for diagnosis (76 laboratories) and treatment (68 centers). These facilities are well integrated into the healthcare system and distributed nation-wide and provide effective care free of charge. The findings of this study demonstrate that there are serious impediments to control of tuberculosis in Senegal. Recommendations are made at various levels based on the results of problem analysis and are used to develop new management strategies aimed at improving NTCP performance indicators in Senegal.

An experimental study of ring avulsion injuries and two preventive devices.

We have performed biomechanical experiments on fresh cadaveric fingers to test two modifications to normal rings which may prevent ring avulsion injuries. One of these modifications produced reliable protection against ring avulsion accidents and was undetectable. It thus does not reduce the symbolic value of a wedding ring.

[Efficacy of the combination of DEET (20%) and EHD (15%) against mosquito bites. Results of a study carried out in Senegal]. / Efficacité de l'association DEET (20%) et EHD (15%) contre les piqûres de moustiques. Résultats d'une étude de terrain effectuée au Sénégal.

The authors report the results of a survey on the efficacy against mosquito bites of a repellent, Mousticologne Spécial Zones Infestées (DEET 20%, EHD 15%). Two forms of the product, spray and gel, were tested in Senegal. Repellent efficacy was evaluated by exposing volunteers, both repellent-treated and untreated, to mosquito bites. The number of mosquito bites per person and per night was 0.63 in the spray treated group (group 1), 6.03 in the gel treated group (group 2) and 94.17 in the untreated group (group 3). The analysis of these results showed a significant difference between treated and untreated persons. Untreated persons were not protected against mosquito bites, persons treated with the spray were protected for 12 hours and those treated with the gel had over 8 hours' protection. We concluded that a single application of the repellent Mousticologne in the field is capable of ensuring all-night protection against mosquito bites.

[Ureteral-pelvic junction syndrome in the child. Apropos of 8 cases]. / Le syndrome de la jonction pyélo-urétérale chez l'enfant. A propos de 8 observations.

Eight cases of uretero-pelvic junction syndrom collected in the ten past years are reported. They are 4 males and 4 females ranged from 18 months to 15 years with a mean age of 4.5 years. This age too late is probably due to the misknowlege but also to the lack of information about the pathology. The main characteristics of this syndrome are analysed according to the literature. All patients except one underwent nephrectomy because the irreverible lesions of the kidney. The authors emphasize the importance of early diagnosis done by antenatal echography but it can be made with a good clinical examination followed by the results of I.V.P. It is necessary for them to make parents, general practitioners and paediatricians sensitive to that pathology to avoid such operating act whose consequence are very serious where as it is benign.

[Population and towns in Senegal: demo-geographic growth]. / Population et villes Senegal: la croissance demogeographique.

PIP: Using data from the 1976 and 1988 censuses, the author notes that the population of Senegal has grown by 37.6 percent over the period and that this growth is concentrated in urban areas. One feature of this trend has been the growing primacy of the capital Dakar and a decline in the relative importance of smaller towns. The need to discourage rural-urban migration by promoting socioeconomic development in rural areas is stressed. (SUMMARY IN ENG)^ieng